Portrait of Mrs Eve Fleming

In his biography of Augustus John, Michael Holroyd describes Mrs Eve Fleming as 'redoubtable'. The widow of Valentine Fleming, a millionaire Yeomanry officer and Member of Parliament for Henley, she was a handsome woman, dark with a small head, large eyes and autocratic features. She had four sons; Peter the author and explorer, Ian the creator of James Bond, Richard a prosperous banker and Michael who died of wounds after Dunkirk. She held a powerful and successful position in society but above all yearned to have a daughter by the man she adored and admired; John. She did eventually achieve her desire and Amaryllis was born illegitimately in December 1925. Amaryllis grew up believing herself to be an orphan adopted by her mother, her parent's true identity being kept from her for many years. John painted the portraits of both mother and daughter many times.